Every great offensive basketball player knows that once the defense relaxes, they’re beaten. When an offensive player makes a slow first dribble move, this lulls the defender into a false sense of safety. As this happens, the offense can accelerate into their second dribble move exploding by them to attack. The more effectively a player changes speed and pace with the basketball, the harder they are to guard. Keeping the defender off balance and guessing will create scoring opportunities for a ball handler.
This basketball dribbling drill focuses explicitly on the between the legs combination dribble move. These ball-handling moves will be made from slow to fast. Through repetition, players will build confidence, allowing them to change pace with the ball in either hand effectively.
Drill Overview
Drill Name: Slow to Fast Double Between the Legs Basketball Dribbling Drill
Equipment Needed: 1 basketball.
Similar Drills and Resources
- Slow to Fast Behind the Back Crossover Drill
- Slow to Fast Crossover Between the Legs Basketball Dribbling Drill
- Slow to Fast Between the Legs Behind the Back Basketball Dribbling Drill
Goals of the Drill
- Work on ball handling and effectively changing pace from slow to fast.
- To increase control and dynamic speed with the basketball.
- Sell the double between the legs basketball move.
Coaching Points
- Players need to sit their hips down and stay in an athletic stance.
- Have players keep their eyes up and looking in the direction of their dribble moves.
- Encourage players to have a drastic change of pace from first to second between the legs move. On a scale of 0-10, the goal is to go from a speed of 3 to 10.
- Have players focus on the reception of the ball from their slow to fast moves. Fingers should be pointing down toward the floor. Make sure the ball is received cleanly from one hand to the other.
- The slow between the legs move will work to set up the defender, as they will relax. The player should then have a burst of speed on the second move to go by them.
Basketball Drill Instructions
- Players will get into an athletic stance and begin dribbling the basketball with their right hand.
- After a few stationary dribbles, they will execute a between the legs move at a slow speed. The ball will go from front to back, behind the player’s left leg, and received in their left hand.
- As soon as the player completes the first move, quickly shift the basketball into the second between the legs move. The speed of the dribbling move should dramatically increase.
- The player will execute back to back between the legs basketball dribbling moves.
- If the player is less advanced, they can take a couple of stationary dribbles between each double move.
- The player will continue to make slow to fast between the legs dribble moves for the desired amount of time or repetitions.
- After the specified amount of time or reps, change which hand starts the move.
Recommended Time, Scoring, and Repetitions
- This ball handling basketball drill is recommended for a total of 60 seconds. Players will start with the basketball in one hand and complete the slow to fast moves for 30 seconds. The player can take a short break before continuing with the opposite hand, performing the slow to fast between the legs dribble for another 30 seconds.
- You can add or reduce time to 30 seconds or have the players complete a determined number of repetitions.
- You can let the players decide their own sequence of slow to fast dribbling moves to add creativity. Challenge them not to make the same double move twice in a row.
- If the player is advanced, you can have them take 1-2 steps forward with each slow to fast between the legs basketball dribbling move.
Slow to Fast Double Between the Legs Basketball Dribbling Drill Conclusion
Often, a player will dribble the basketball at the same speed for an entire game. Players who play basketball at one speed are predictable and easy to guard. This basketball drill allows guards and ball handlers to work on a specific move, with the primary focus on dynamically changing pace. This switch of speed will create the opportunity to set up the defender and then blow by them.
A player who has these ball-handling skills will be valuable in isolation situations for their team’s offense. They will be able to create chances to score, either for themselves or a teammate. This will be essential when it comes to getting the quality paint touches that every great offensive team needs to be successful.
